What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Jaffrey	Alton
People
Population	5,448Lowest	5,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Jaffrey and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
	Alton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$962±$202 35% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,196Highest 7% below NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±23Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Jaffrey and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% below NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Alton and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#87 of 120 in NH	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Conant Middle High School (H)	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	21.3Highest	11.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.